Thanks to the dumbed-down nature of Tough Enough, wannabe wrestlers from coast to coast think they're only a reality show away from being a WWE superstar.

But we all know television isn't the best way to gauge how things work.

True love is rarely found at a rose ceremony, most millionaires never had to use a lifeline and the road to wrestling stardom is a heck of a lot tougher than a 10-week training camp with TV cameras in tow.

Scotty Mac is a textbook example of the real-life process of becoming a pro wrestler. The B.C.-based grappler is on the verge of breaking into the big time after slugging it out on the Canadian indie scene for the past four years.

"It began when I started watching wrestling when I was seven or eight," Mac said. "It quickly became an obsession and it soon became clear that there was nothing else I wanted to do with my life."

According to Mac, the first step for aspiring superstars is to get in shape. After that, it's time to get in some training and have your dedication put to the test.

"Find a reputable wrestling school that has good contacts and has been around for a few years, rather than some guy who just bought a ring," he said. "Then brace yourself because they try to break you.

"My first day of training was only three hours long but it was so intense that on the way home, I had to pull over to puke. The next day, I could barely get out of bed or even roll over."

Mastering the art is a slow process but Mac had a knack for it and quickly found himself on the Canadian independent scene. This is the make-or-break stage for many aspiring grapplers, paying their dues by slogging it out on weekends, often travelling hundreds of miles to perform for a handful people.

"It's tough. There have been times when I haven't had a day job because work won't accommodate my wrestling schedule," he said. "Money gets tight. Relationships with girls suffer. It's a huge sacrifice and unless wrestling is your priority, you probably won't get through it."

But when Mac landed in the Vancouver-based ECCW, the hard work began to pay off. His biggest opportunity came last week when he attended a three-day tryout in WWE's developmental territory, OVW.

"I went into the training camp with four years experience, feeling pretty good about myself as a wrestler. By the end of the first day, I realized I didn't know quite as much as I thought," he said. "There's a lot to be learned there and you won't find better training anywhere else."

Now it's back to the indies for Scotty Mac, with the goal to get more experience and put on more size.